Kvitova beats Barty in epic Sydney final

Ash Barty came within a few points of the title, yet two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova digs in during a tense final set to claim her second Sydney crown.

Sydney, NSW, 12 January 2019 | AAP / tennis.com.au

Petra Kvitova has ended Ash Barty’s hopes of a maiden WTA title on home soil, coming back to beat the Australian 1-6 7-5 7-6(3) in an epic Sydney International final.

After Barty cruised to an opening set win in 29 minutes, world No.8 Kvitova served to stay in the match in the second and edged home in the third-set tiebreaker to claim her second Sydney crown after triumphing in 2015.

Barty was also beaten in the decider in Sydney last year by Angelique Kerber, but enjoyed a fantastic tournament in 2019, beating world No.1 Simona Halep and top-10 player Kiki Bertens en route to the final.

Kvitova, who completed her rain-delayed semifinal at almost 1am on the morning of the final, looked flat from the outset against a fleet-footed Barty, who opened a 4-0 lead and took the set three games later.

The second set went game for game, with Barty becoming just slightly passive when leading 4-5 on Kvitova’s serve.

It was at that precise moment the Czech came alive; benefitting from the slightly cooler, shadier conditions as the final extended into the early evening, she began landing more of her venomous groundstrokes from the back of the court.

She broke for a 6-5 lead and won the next game to send the match to a decider.

Kvitova has now won her last 8 consecutive finals. She is 26-7 in career finals. #WTA

Kvitova apologised to Barty and the Sydney crowd for spoiling the Australian’s Sydney party.

“I really like Ash. She’s a great competitor. She’s a very nice person off the court, as well,” Kvitova said later.

“I feel sorry for her that she couldn’t make it today, unfortunately … she really put everything out there today, and she really played a great game. She served very well, as well. She had a great run to the final. Unfortunately she was in the final last year, as well.

“It’s not the best for her, but she’s very talented. Even like she stop with the tennis and she came back, and she’s playing unbelievable. It’s only great things to her.”